Rocky Library sounds alarm over Bill 28

The Rocky Mountain House Public Library is raising concerns about the Alberta government’s proposed Bill 28, saying the legislation could affect free access to information and waste staff’s limited time.

Library manager Ben Worth and board chair Lori Pratt appeared before both Rocky Mountain House town council and Clearwater County council, asking the municipalities to voice concerns to MLA Jason Nixon and provincial ministers.

Introduced April 2 by Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams, Bill 28 proposes changes to the Libraries Act, as well as legislation governing housing and municipal governments.

Pratt said the proposed changes would require library staff to monitor access to materials and respond to inspections, taking time away from other duties.

She also raised concerns about patron privacy and access to library records.

“We believe libraries are best governed at the local level by the communities they serve,” Pratt said, adding the bill could hamper local decision-making.

Pratt said the Rocky library already has policies in place governing appropriate materials and procedures for addressing patron concerns locally.

Worth said the issue centres on intellectual freedom and public access to information.

He argued Bill 28 could create broad changes around what materials are considered inappropriate, noting standards vary widely among patrons.

“Maybe someone wants to read a romance novel — that’s their preference. It’s not for everyone,” he said.

Some Clearwater County councillors pushed back on the concerns.

Coun. Hazen Letwin questioned the availability of library content containing nudity, while Deputy Reeve Drew McKay voiced support for restricting explicit material for children. McKay also asked whether birth dates could be attached to library accounts to help prevent children from accessing inappropriate material.

Worth and Pratt asked both councils to consider signing a letter expressing concerns about the legislation.

Amendments target sexually explicit material

The proposed amendments to the Libraries Act would restrict children under 16 from accessing sexually explicit material in public libraries without parental consent beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

Williams has said libraries ultimately fall under provincial authority, and the government must ensure abuses are not occurring.

The Canadian Urban Libraries Council says it is concerned the bill would give Premier Danielle Smith’s government unprecedented authority over library operations, including access to patron borrowing records.

Executive Director Mary Chevreau said the legislation is the first of its kind in Canada and warned it could create a domino effect for government censorship.

The Alberta government says the bill does not ban books. In a government release, officials said no authors or titles are being targeted for removal and libraries would continue offering diverse collections.

A statement on the same matter from the Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries (CAPL) can be read here. Rocky’s library is part of the Parkland Regional Library System, which is a member of the CAPL.

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~ with files from The Canadian Press